Fresh off their 2025 CMAOntario nomination for Group or Duo of the Year, the powerhouse pairing of Amanda Kind and James Downham is back to prove exactly why they are one of the most electric acts in Canadian country music today. On February 6, the duo officially closes the door on past flames with their bold new single, “Comeback.”
Released via Symphonic Music, “Comeback” is the ultimate “don’t-text-me-at-3am” breakup anthem. While the title might suggest a reunion, the track is actually a clever, hook-heavy celebration of walking away for good. Produced by Matt Koebel and polished by 7-time JUNO nominee Brandon Unis, the single perfectly captures the duo’s signature “bluesy-meets-bouncy” groove and the soaring, airtight harmonies that have become their sonic calling card.
From the stages of their fan-favorite live show, Time of My Life: The Greatest Duets in Concert, to the airwaves, Amanda and James continue to build a momentum that feels as nostalgic as it does fresh. With “Comeback,” they aren’t just releasing a song; they’re delivering a masterclass in cheeky confidence and vocal chemistry.
First off, care to introduce yourselves to our readers?
Hey Canadian Beats! We’re Amanda & James, a Canadian country duo. Nice to meet you. We like to keep things equal parts goofy and grounded – imagine a mix of Blake Shelton charm and Adele emotion: honest, warm, and just a little bit cheeky. Our songs run the gamut from feel-good, crank-it-up anthems to heart-on-your-sleeve ballads, all anchored by rich harmonies and big, soaring vocals. We were pretty thrilled to be nominated for Group or Duo of the Year at the 2025 CMAOntario Awards last June. And this summer had us hopping between outdoor festivals and intimate stages all across Ontario. We really believe music is about connection – our fans are more like neighbours than numbers. We hope our songs meet you exactly where you’re at – whether you’re grabbing a drink and having a laugh or needing a good cry, we’ve got you. And if we sound familiar, you’re not imagining things – you may have met us here before as solo artists, since Canadian Beats has previously featured us separately as James Downham and Amanda Kind.
Comeback was written by Sam Daviau, Ali Dutton, and Joey DePaiva. What specifically about the song’s cheeky confidence and clever nostalgia made you feel it was the right fit for you?
A) What pulled us in right away was the song’s unapologetic energy. When Sam Daviau pitched “Comeback” to us, the original version had plenty of attitude, but was more chill – we cranked the tempo and made a few lyric changes to fully make it our own. There is no shortage of sad breakup songs in the world – what we love about “Comeback” is that it doesn’t wallow. It’s a chapter-closing, door-locking, don’t-text-me-at-3am anthem for anyone who is done with the will-they-won’t-they cycle. “Comeback” is about reclaiming your power with a wink. No reunion. No revival. No sequel. Absolutely no Ross-and-Rachel energy. It celebrates that glorious moment when you realize you’re worth more than another ride on the relationship rollercoaster.
Can you walk us through the process of taking a co-written song and stamping it with the distinct Amanda & James sound?
“Comeback” actually started as a solo recording. Amanda initially planned to release it on her own, but once we started experimenting with it as a duet, everything clicked. We reworked the arrangement, leaned into the bluesy melodies, hit the groove a little harder, and let the harmonies do what they do best – lift the song right off the ground. That’s really our sweet spot. Music moves in cycles, and we’re fully leaning into a bold, 90s-coded, belt-it-out era. As “Comeback”says, everything 90s is coming back … including powerhouse vocals. If you love artists like Lady A or Chris Stapleton – and you miss songs with big melodies and emotional payoff, you’re our people and this track will feel right at home in your playlist.
You worked with CMAO/CCMA nominee Matt Koebel (Producer) and 7x JUNO nominee Brandon Unis (Mixing/Mastering). How did their expertise shape the final sound of Comeback?
Working with Matt Koebel and Brandon Unis helped bring “Comeback” to life in exactly the way we hoped. Matt has incredible instincts when it comes to instrumentation and overall vibe. He helped bring out the bluesy swagger that makes the track feel fun, fearless, and a little bit rowdy. Brandon has a phenomenal ear. He did a great job balancing all the creative elements – every part has space while keeping the vocals front and centre. The result feels confident and cohesive, and when you press play, it just hits. We love it.
Your harmonies are a key part of your identity. How did you approach arranging the vocal parts on Comeback to ensure they were both prominent and served the song’s energy?
Usually, the song tells us who’s driving the harmony bus. A lot of it comes down to key and range. Full transparency – if the harmony is especially spicy, Amanda probably drew the short straw (James insists this is “strategic”). All jokes aside, we’re really intentional about harmony choices. We don’t stack parts just to show off – we want the vocals to serve the song’s energy and make the chorus feel like it lifts off. Our goal is always for those harmonies to hit in a way that feels exciting and emotional, taking the sound somewhere special without ever getting in the way of the melody. For “Comeback”, we wanted it to sound like we were having a full-on vocal fight at points, so the harmonies creep up pretty high to give that amped up energy.
Now that Comeback is out, what can fans expect next? Are there plans for an EP or album, or will you continue releasing singles?
The next stretch is shaping up to be busy in all the right ways. We’re juggling a lot of performing, a lot of writing, and some studio time as we work toward recording our debut album. It’s a funny and exciting phase for us – we knew exactly who we were as solo artists, and now we’re in the slightly chaotic process of figuring out who we are as a duo. We both love such a wide range of styles that choosing just one lane feels a little limiting, so we’re giving ourselves permission to experiment and follow whatever feels right. And honestly, if Taylor Swift can jump genres and thrive, we feel pretty good about our odds. On the live side, we had a full 2025 and we’re aiming to make 2026 an even bigger year. We’ve got shows lined up in Mexico this winter (which we’re very excited about), and we’re hoping to be busy all summer (there’s nothing better than festival season and outdoor stages). Alongside our Amanda & James live performances, we have a tribute show called Time of My Life: The Greatest Duets in Concert. It’s a show packed with all the popular duets people know and love from past and present – everything from Islands In The Stream, Jackson, and From This Moment to Shallow, Need You Now, that iconic song from Dirty Dancing (have you heard our country version of I’ve Had The Time of My Life?!), and even a few of our originals. We’ll be performing that show as well next year. Between new music and lots of live moments, there’s plenty to look forward to.